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  • Marion Fellows – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Marion Fellows – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Marion Fellows on 2016-06-13.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reasons the income of the highest-earning parent is used to assess eligibility for child benefit rather than the joint incomes of both parents.

    Damian Hinds

    If the Government were to use total household income as the criteria for the High Income Child Benefit Charge on households, this would require collecting information of the incomes of everyone in each of the eight million households receiving Child Benefit. This would effectively introduce a new means test. The Government’s approach withdraws Child Benefit from those on high incomes, whilst having no impact on the majority of claimants.

  • Matthew Pennycook – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Matthew Pennycook – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Matthew Pennycook on 2016-06-13.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he has made of the potential effect on the UK economy of the increase in corporate debt in China.

    Damian Hinds

    The Treasury continuously monitors global economic developments, including in China, and their impact on the UK as part of the normal process of policy development. As one of the most open trading economies in the world with a large financial sector, we have to recognise that the UK is not immune to the continued problems being experienced in the world economy. Nonetheless, the Bank of England’s 2015 stress tests modelled a severe slowdown in commodities and emerging markets. No banks were required to submit revised capital plans following the stress tests. These results indicate that the UK banking system would have the capacity to continue to lend to the real economy, even under such a severe adverse scenario.

  • Paul Blomfield – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Paul Blomfield – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Blomfield on 2016-06-13.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many enquiries have been made by hon. Members to HM Revenue and Customs on tax credits claims by (a) e-mail, (b) telephone and (c) letter in the last 12 months.

    Damian Hinds

    HMRC receives enquiries from hon. Members about tax credit awards in a number of different ways. HMRC seeks to answer every one as a high priority.

    HMRC collates internal management statistics relating to tax credit enquiries but does not hold comprehensive figures as to how many of these were submitted by hon. Members via each medium.

  • Chris Stephens – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Chris Stephens – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Stephens on 2016-06-13.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 26 May 2016 to Question 38066, what the (a) number, (b) current responsibilities and (c) current locations are of any National Savings and Investment roles undertaken by employees of Atos which are planned to be off-shored.

    Harriett Baldwin

    NS&I and Atos regularly review the mix of where roles are undertaken so as to best meet the needs of the business. There are no current plans to move roles in the UK undertaken by employees of Atos off-shore.

  • Peter Aldous – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Peter Aldous – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Peter Aldous on 2016-06-13.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an estimate of the effect on the public purse of the effects on the life chances of residents of the services and support provided through supported housing; and if he will make a statement.

    Damian Hinds

    The Treasury has made no formal estimate of the impact on the public finances resulting from the effects of supported housing provision on the life chances of residents. However, analysis of the financial benefits of capital investment in specialist housing has previously been commissioned by the Homes and Communities Agency: Financial benefits of investment in specialist housing for vulnerable and older people (2010). This includes analysis of the impact of capital funding for specialist housing on the usage and associated costs of wider public services, including primary and secondary healthcare, social care, the criminal justice system, and the benefits system.

    The Department for Work and Pensions and Department for Communities and Local Government are currently conducting an evidence review of the supported housing sector, which will report shortly.

  • Deidre Brock – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Church Commissioners

    Deidre Brock – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Church Commissioners

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Deidre Brock on 2016-06-13.

    To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, if the Church of England will make an assessment of the effect of austerity on communities in the most deprived areas as measured by the English Indices of Deprivation 2015.

    Mrs Caroline Spelman

    The Church Commissioners have no plans to undertake such an assessment.

    Through its network of parishes and dioceses the Church of England is present in all the communities of England. The clergy and people of the Church of England are well placed to hear, articulate and respond to the needs and concerns of local communities. This plays an important role in informing the public engagement of the Church on social policy matters especially at local level.

  • Craig Whittaker – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Craig Whittaker – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Craig Whittaker on 2016-06-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of local authorities in processing and deciding planning applications within recommended timescales.

    Brandon Lewis

    Between January and March 2016, local planning authorities decided 82 per cent of major applications on time; the highest figure on record.

  • Tim Farron – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Tim Farron – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tim Farron on 2016-06-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, when he expects his Department to submit a final estimate of the damage caused by flooding in the South Lakes area to the European Commission as part of the UK’s application to the EU Solidarity Fund.

    James Wharton

    The Government submitted an initial UK application to the European Union Solidary Fund on Friday 26 February. The application included an estimate of eligible costs of direct damage incurred by the storms in December and early January. Since making this initial application we have continued to refine our cost estimates. I will update Parliament once the European Commission’s final assessment has been made.

  • Jonathan Reynolds – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Jonathan Reynolds – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jonathan Reynolds on 2016-06-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of housing benefit payments is made to non-British nationals in the last 12 months.

    Justin Tomlinson

    Expenditure on the main DWP working age benefits, including Housing Benefit, for European Economic Area (EEA) national-led claims can be found at:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/502129/benefit-expenditure-eea-nationals-ad-hoc-stats.pdf.

    “

  • Chi Onwurah – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Chi Onwurah – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chi Onwurah on 2016-06-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of moving television from broadcast spectrum to other delivery mechanisms.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    The most recent assessment was made by the independent regulator, Ofcom, in their report: The Future of Free to View TV (May 2014). This is a fast moving market and as it evolves, the Government will keep these issues under review.

    Detailed spectrum planning is a matter for Ofcom.